Family Fishing Day is Sunday

This press release just came in from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding a Eugene event next Sunday:

Families interested in spending an enjoyable day outdoors with a fishing pole in their hands may want to put the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Family Fishing Event at Alton Baker Canoe Canal on their calendar for 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Sunday, May 4.

A feature of the ODFW Outdoors Program, this free event is designed to introduce kids and their families to fishing. To ensure that everybody has a good chance of catching a fish — or several of them — ODFW will release more than 2,000 hearty rainbow trout produced especially for this event by ODFW’s Leaburg hatchery. Most fish will be between 8-10 inches, with some fish reaching 14 inches or greater.

People are welcome to bring their own fishing equipment if they prefer. For those who do not have their own gear, ODFW will provide rods, reels, tackle and bait free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We want to make this as easy and enjoyable for folks as possible,” said Shannon Richardson, ODFW biologist coordinating the event. “If you have any interest in fishing and want to give it a try, this event is for you. We’ll get you geared up with the right stuff and show you what to do.”

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is located within Alton Baker Park, one of the most popular and multi-functional parks in Eugene. The park is located on the north bank of the Willamette River just east of the Ferry Street Bridge and Coburg Road. It is accessible by foot or bike from either side of the river via the River Bank Trails. Access by car is via the Club Road underpass off Coburg Road or from Autzen Stadium off MLK/Centennial.

ODFW’s free fishing event will take place about 250 yards upstream of the bridge over the canal at the park entrance.

The event is open to the public, and no pre-registration is required. Anglers 13 years old and younger do not need a fishing license. Anglers 14-17 years of age will need a juvenile fishing license, which can be purchased for $9 at any ODFW license agent, ODFW office or on-line at ODFW’s website. Everybody else must have an adult fishing license. Licenses will not be sold at the event so individuals planning to participate should obtain their licenses ahead of time.

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is one of more than 350 water bodies in Oregon that ODFW regularly stocks with trout. Persons interested in fishing can explore many other opportunities by perusing ODFW’s stocking schedules, maps, guides and other resources at ODFW’s website, located at www.dfw.state.or.us under the “Fishing” tab.

To talk to a biologist about the free fishing event or other fishing opportunities, seasons or regulations in the Eugene area, feel free to call ODFW’s Springfield office at 726-3515.